Norris Fights Off Precisions to Win Portland GP

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Q1	Q2	Diff.
1	6	Artem Markelov		51.881	51.742
2	47	Lando Norris		52.014	51.768	+0.026
3	57	Dean Stoneman		51.993	51.815	+0.073
4	39	Sho Tsuboi		52.105	51.892	+0.150
5	94	Pascal Wehrlein		51.892	51.973	+0.150
6	18	Sebastian Vettel		52.103	51.993	+0.251
7	31	Esteban Ocon		52.021	52.172	+0.279
8	23	Alexander Albon		52.313	52.162	+0.420
9	29	Roger Ibe		52.483	52.195	+0.453
10	64	Dave Cassidy		52.427	52.299	+0.557
11	70	Sérgio Sette Câmara		52.397	52.500	+0.655
12	33	Max Verstappen		52.773	52.406	+0.664
13	26	Robert Shwartzman		52.561	52.817	+0.819
14	7	Charles Leclerc		52.811	52.596	+0.844
15	77	Valtteri Bottas		52.992	52.781	+1.039
16	37	Kazuki Nakajima		52.834	52.902	+1.092
17	13	Pastor Maldonado		53.102	52.938	+1.196
18	84	Jack Aitken		53.152	53.032	+1.290
19	23	Jules Bianchi		53.563	53.417	+1.675
20	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		53.492	53.732	+1.750
21	99	Antonio Giovinazzi		53.701	53.576	+1.834
22	4	Robin Frijns		53.791	53.704	+1.962
23	73	Daniel Melrose		53.763	53.823	+2.021
24	98	Bradley Dagnall		53.980	53.807	+2.065

Report:

Portland was welcoming a Formula One in dire need of positive news after the weather-induced catastrophe that was the Philippines Grand Prix and the Portland International Raceway was more than willing to provide action.

Precision-Mercedes in quite great form and was more than able to take the fight to Caterham and BR Mansell. Whilst Lando Norris managed to take pole position, the two Precision drivers started third and fifth.

Wehrlein and Stoneman both were so close to the top that they nearly fell out of the contest themselves when second-placed Artem Markelov was hit by Carlos Sainz, Jr. after he lost control of his Dawson and ran into a wall.

Thankfully, Markelov’s retirement only hurt his title chances so much, as main contender Sebastian Vettel was quite slow, only just finishing ahead of Roger Ibe and behind Esteban Ocon, right in the middle of the points.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Points
1	47	Lando Norris		45:12.082	15
2	57	Dean Stoneman		+1.341	12
3	94	Pascal Wehrlein		+2.224	10
4	39	Sho Tsuboi		+9.215	8
5	14	Esteban Ocon		+13.511	6
6	18	Sebastian Vettel		+17.327	5
7	29	Roger Ibe		+19.137	4
8	64	Dave Cassidy		+21.627	3
9	7	Charles Leclerc		+27.531	2
10	23	Alexander Albon		+29.912	1
11	26	Robert Shwartzman		+35.526
12	77	Valtteri Bottas		+40.236
13	33	Max Verstappen		+42.151
14	6	Artem Markelov		Collision
15	23	Jules Bianchi		1 Lap
16	37	Kazuki Nakajima		1 Lap
17	73	Daniel Melrose		1 Lap
18	19	Robin Frijns		1 Lap
19	99	Antonio Giovinazzi		1 Lap
20	98	Bradley Dagnall		1 Lap
21	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		Accident
DNF	85	Jack Aitken		Motor
DNF	13	Pastor Maldonado		Transmission
DNF	70	Sérgio Sette Câmara		Collision

Fastest Lap:

Lando Norris – 1:13.243

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Precision-Mercedes – this time, they were as fast as the world champions they are.

Reject Of The Race:

Antonio Giovinazzi – quite poor driving earns the Italian a suspended race ban.